“Low grades in school” and “brushes with the law” initially kept teenager off heart transplant list

Julie Wilson
Infowars.com
August 14, 2013

Anthony Stokes, 15, suffers from an enlarged heart and has been given six months to live unless he receives a heart transplant.

Doctors at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta initially refused to provide the child with a heart transplant claiming he had a history of “non-compliance,” but have now conceded after his story made headlines nationwide.

A report by the NY Daily News revealed that the hospital originally ruled against adding Stokes to the wait list for a heart transplant based on his history of failing to take medication.

Medical specialists sent a letter to the child’s family that read, “The decision was made that Anthony is currently not a transplant candidate due to having a history of noncompliance, which is one of our center’s contraindications to listing for heart transplant.”

Stokes’ mother and civil rights groups claim by “non-compliance” the hospital was actually referring to his “low grades at school and brushes with the law.”

The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta released a statement saying, “The well-being of our patients is always our first priority. We are continuing to work with this family and looking at all options regarding this patient’s health care. We follow very specific criteria in determining eligibility for a transplant of any kind.”

Family members say Stokes could soon be sent home while he waits for his heart transplant.